Liturgy Alive Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Introduction

Today is a celebration of thanks to the Lord, who does great things to humble people who trust in God. In the Old Testament Hannah gives thanks to God because he has given her a son. She dedicates him to God. Samuel will be a very great prophet of the Lord. And Mary, a young, humble, unassuming girl boldly sings out her joy and thanks to God who will upset the world’s values through Jesus, the Son to be born from her. With Hannah and Mary we sing out our joy and thanks to God.

Opening Prayer

God of the little ones,
with Mary we rejoice and give you thanks
that you let Jesus Christ become one of us
and let him bring us the dignity
of your sons and daughters.
May we live up to that dignity
and to the joy that says
that we are deeply loved by you.
Like you, may we also learn to care
for all that is little and brittle
and bring your justice to the poor
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GospelIntroduction:
Today’s Gospel records that young woman’s canticle, which bears a striking resemblance to Hannah’s. Both of these songs, on the lips of women, mothers, anticipate what God will do through the agency of their sons. Both image God’s saving activity concretely as toppling unjust structures and disarming oppressive regimes. “The bows of the mighty are broken,” declares Hannah, and Mary echoes, “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones.”
“The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,” Hannah says, and Mary answers, “He has filled the hungry with good things.” These are songs of the anawim, the poor who have no recourse or resource of their own and must wait for God to save them. They capture the true spirit of Advent.

General Intercessions

– For all the good things we have experienced in life we ask the Lord to accept our gratitude: Lord, all thanks to you.

– For all who have received from God many talents and goods, that out of gratitude they may share them with others, we pray:

– For our faith, for our brothers and sisters in our Christian communities and for the presence of Christ among us, we give thanks:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we can bring before you no more
than the humble gifts of bread and wine,
which are, after all, gifts coming from your hand.
But do great things in them,
and let them become Jesus,
your Son among us.
Let him stay with us,
so that he too can do great marvels
in us and through us,
for he is our Lord now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God, God of hope,
accept our thanks and joy
for your love and justice
that come to us, however poor we are.
Let your Son liberate us
from our selfishness and cold greed
Weak as we are, let him give us the strength
to make love and service
the foundation of the new world
he wants to begin with us.
Thank you, Lord, for all this joy
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

With Mary we say: “the almighty has done great things for us. Holy be his name.” May almighty God keep blessing you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.